Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
ATTUTIS, Justin C
Date of birth
1924
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Illinois
Hometown
Vermilion County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
O-766387
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
394th Fighter Squadron,
367th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
15 February 1945
Place of death
Near Wiesbaden, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
D 5 31

Immediate family

Members
Joseph Attutis (father)
Agnes Attutis (mother)
Joe Attutis (brother)
Bernadine Attutis (sister)
Carolann Attutis (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-24620
Data
Type: P-38L-1
Destination: Mainz, Germany
Mission: Strafing a train
MACR: 12375

More information

Statement from 1st Lt Shirt R. Alger:
"While on an armed reconnaissance mission, 15 February 1945, the squadron had just formed after bombing and strafing the marshalling yard west of Mainz. The squadron leader set course at 62 degrees and, as we passed over Mainz, Lt Attutis, who lead yellow flight, turned over and went down on Mainz. Thinking he had been hit, I followed him down until I saw him strafing a train. The flak was intense and, as he pulled up to approximately 8,000 feet, his left engine burst into flames. It looked like he fought the ship down to approximately 5,000 feet, then I observed a parachute open. I circled the spot until the plane hit and I saw the parachute land. I then called in my position to Rapsaw. He was shot by a German officer, after parachuting. He fatally wounded the German officer before dying."


Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, wwiimemorial – James Balsamello, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.ancestry.com - U.S. School Yearbooks Westville High School, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 44-B, Williams Field, Arizona